ABSTRACT
The study investigated the contributions of a brief psychoeducational intervention during pregnancy to cope with HIV among women living with HIV. Participants were four mothers, 29 to 37 years old, two of them diagnosed during their current antenatal exams. A collective study-case design was used to examine mother’s accounts before, after and during intervention sessions, as well as an assessment in the third month of the baby. Results revealed HIV diagnosis during pregnancy represented a situation of psychological risk, since it required a huge adaptation effort and an emotional burden caused by the possibility to transmit the disease to the child. In this context, the psychoeducational intervention showed positive contributions confronting HIV and to the emotional well being of the mothers. The need for appropriate psychological support to all pregnant women living with HIV is discussed.
Keywords:
pregnancy; HIV/aids; intervention; coping